--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Good writing is clear. Talented writing…" description: "\"“Good writing is clear. Talented writing is energetic. Good writing avoids errors. Talented writing makes things happen in the reader’s mind — vividly,..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bbd/samuel-r-delany-2591_good-writing_good-writing-is-clear-talented-writing-i_2876619.png" --- # Good writing is clear. Talented writing is energetic. Good… ![“Good writing is clear. Talented writing is energetic. Good writing avoids errors. Talented writing makes things happen in the reader’s mind — vividly, forcefully — that good writing, which stops with clarity and logic, doesn’t.” quote by Samuel R. Delany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bbd/samuel-r-delany-2591_good-writing_good-writing-is-clear-talented-writing-i_2876619.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bbd/samuel-r-delany-2591_good-writing_good-writing-is-clear-talented-writing-i_2876619.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bbd/samuel-r-delany-2591_good-writing_good-writing-is-clear-talented-writing-i_2876619.png) > ““Good writing is clear. Talented writing is energetic. Good writing avoids errors. Talented writing makes things happen in the reader’s mind — vividly, forcefully — that good writing, which stops with clarity and logic, doesn’t.”” [Samuel R. Delany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-r-delany/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Clear writing conveys ideas; energetic writing immerses readers, making concepts vivid and impactful. **In simple terms:** Clarity vs. energy in writing. Key Takeaway Balance clarity with vividness. Themes writing communication creativity Mood analytical creative Type instructional reflective When to use this quote - academic essays - fiction - marketing copy Key Concepts rhetoric cognitive engagement Questions to Reflect On - How can you make clear writing more vivid? - When is clarity more important than energy? A Different Perspective Energy may sacrifice precision; clarity can feel flat. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Clear Talented](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clear-talented-3963383/) [Good writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-writing/) [Talented Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/talented-writing-3963382/) [Things happen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/things-happen/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) [Writing Clear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing-clear-1140810/) [Writing Energetic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing-energetic-3963381/) ## Related quotes > [Good writing is clear. Talented writing is energetic. Good writing avoids errors. Talented writing makes things happen in the reader's mind---vividly, forcefully...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-r-delany/good-writing-is-clear-talented-writing-is-energetic-good-writing/) [Samuel R. Delany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-r-delany/) > [Most good writing is clear, vigorous, honest, alive, sensuous, appropriate, unsentimental, rhythmic, without pretension, fresh, metaphorical, evocative in sound, economical, authoritative, surprising, memorable, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-macrorie/most-good-writing-is-clear-vigorous-honest-alive-sensuous-appropriate/) [Ken Macrorie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-macrorie/) > [I know people who are really talented at writing, and they just don't ever make it happen because they're also good at other things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-brandon/i-know-people-who-are-really-talented-at-writing-and-they-just-don-t/) [John Brandon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-brandon/) > [“Writing means organizing your thoughts. If your mind is scattered, your writing is scattered. If your mind is focused, your writing will be clear.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-peate/writing-means-organizing-your-thoughts-if-your-mind-is-scattered-your/) [Robert Peate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-peate/) > [“If you are trying to decide among a few people to fill a position hire the best writer. it doesn't matter if the person…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-fried/if-you-are-trying-to-decide-among-a-few-people-to-fill-a-position/) [Jason Fried](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-fried/) > [. . . Then anyone who leaves behind him a written manual, and likewise anyone who receives it, in the belief that such writing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/then-anyone-who-leaves-behind-him-a-written-manual-and-likewise/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [“I want my writing to be as clear as water I can see through so that what I experienced is told without my being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cage/i-want-my-writing-to-be-as-clear-as-water-i-can-see-through-so-that/) [John Cage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cage/) > [“Hire great writers If you are trying to decide among a few people to fill a position, hire the best writer. It doesn’t matter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-fried/hire-great-writers-if-you-are-trying-to-decide-among-a-few-people-to/) [Jason Fried](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-fried/) > [Short, sweet, and to the point. Clear writing, and therefore clear commands, comes from clear thinking. Think simple.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-ferriss/short-sweet-and-to-the-point-clear-writing-and-therefore-clear/) [Tim Ferriss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-ferriss/) > [“talking about clear minds writing in clear language—the predictions of Saint Augustine, Sir Francis Bacon, Newton, Einstein, the list goes on and on, all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-brown/talking-about-clear-minds-writing-in-clear-language-the-predictions/) [Dan Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-brown/) > [I made up my mind long ago to follow one cardinal rule in all my writing — to be clear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-asimov/i-made-up-my-mind-long-ago-to-follow-one-cardinal-rule-in-all-my/) [Isaac Asimov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-asimov/) > [ “Though they have things in common, good writing and talented writing are not the same. \[…\] If you start with a confused, unclear, and… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-r-delany/though-they-have-things-in-common-good-writing-and-talented-writing/) [Samuel R. Delany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-r-delany/) > [I don't think that writing, real writing, has much to do with affirming belief--if anything it causes rifts and gaps in belief which make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-evenson/i-don-t-think-that-writing-real-writing-has-much-to-do-with-affirming/) [Brian Evenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-evenson/) > [Inspiration comes from so many sources. Music, other fiction, the non-fiction I read, TV shows, films, news reports, people I know, stories I hear,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trudi-canavan/inspiration-comes-from-so-many-sources-music-other-fiction-the-non/) [Trudi Canavan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trudi-canavan/) > [My only close-to-game-plan is to follow good writing. If the writing is in TV or if it's in theater or in film, that's it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-driver/my-only-close-to-game-plan-is-to-follow-good-writing-if-the-writing/) [Adam Driver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-driver/) ## More by Samuel R. Delany > [A poet is wounded into speech, and he examines these wounds, meticulously, to discover how to heal them. The bad poet harangues at the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-r-delany/a-poet-is-wounded-into-speech-and-he-examines-these-wounds/) [Samuel R. Delany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-r-delany/) > ['You spin in the sky, the world spins under you, and you step from land to land, while we . . .' She turned…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-r-delany/you-spin-in-the-sky-the-world-spins-under-you-and-you-step-from-land/) [Samuel R. Delany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-r-delany/) > [What you are will make you what you will become.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-r-delany/what-you-are-will-make-you-what-you-will-become/) [Samuel R. Delany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-r-delany/) > [“People probably do hear watches go tic-tok. But I’m sure my childhood clock went tic-tic-tic-tic-tic-tic-tic…Why”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-r-delany/people-probably-do-hear-watches-go-tic-tok-but-i-m-sure-my-childhood/) [Samuel R. Delany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-r-delany/) > [“I wanted to get out, Vyme, to keep going and not be trapped, to be free… only I was cruel. I had the chance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-r-delany/i-wanted-to-get-out-vyme-to-keep-going-and-not-be-trapped-to-be-free/) [Samuel R. Delany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-r-delany/) > [A number of things in 'Dhalgren' are just meant to function as mysteries. They're mysteries when the book begins, and they're mysteries when the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-r-delany/a-number-of-things-in-dhalgren-are-just-meant-to-function-as/) [Samuel R. Delany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-r-delany/) > [The pulp hero, though he may be a renegade, is a guy who doesn't feel. Anything. Ever. And for the adolescent male - pummeled…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-r-delany/the-pulp-hero-though-he-may-be-a-renegade-is-a-guy-who-doesn-t-feel/) [Samuel R. Delany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-r-delany/) > [“they were nice in a useless sort of way, which is, after all, the only way to be truly nice.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-r-delany/they-were-nice-in-a-useless-sort-of-way-which-is-after-all-the-only/) [Samuel R. Delany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-r-delany/) > [From 1968 on, I was pretty much the black, gay SF writer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-r-delany/from-1968-on-i-was-pretty-much-the-black-gay-sf-writer/) [Samuel R. Delany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-r-delany/) > [“Neurotics, proceed with delusions of grandeur. Napoleon Bonaparte, take the lead. Jesus Christ, bring up the rear. Simulate severe depression. Non-communicative with repressed hostility.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-r-delany/neurotics-proceed-with-delusions-of-grandeur-napoleon-bonaparte-take/) [Samuel R. Delany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-r-delany/) > [“Do you follow the wrestling? Most people think it's illegal, but you can watch it there. Ruby and Python are on display this evening.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-r-delany/do-you-follow-the-wrestling-most-people-think-it-s-illegal-but-you/) [Samuel R. Delany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-r-delany/) > [Spending practically every minute of your day on pure survival is an absolutely boring life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-r-delany/spending-practically-every-minute-of-your-day-on-pure-survival-is-an/) [Samuel R. Delany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-r-delany/) > [When what is is congruent to what is supposed, the reaction is functional and the mental processes competent. When what is and what is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-r-delany/when-what-is-is-congruent-to-what-is-supposed-the-reaction-is/) [Samuel R. Delany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-r-delany/) > [Everyone in a position of authority is hysterical, and everyone else is pretending to be asleep.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-r-delany/everyone-in-a-position-of-authority-is-hysterical-and-everyone-else/) [Samuel R. Delany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-r-delany/) > [Since I spent eighteen years of my life as a child, and nine years of that life as a pretty sexually active gay child,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-r-delany/since-i-spent-eighteen-years-of-my-life-as-a-child-and-nine-years-of/) [Samuel R. Delany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-r-delany/) [Explore all 158 Samuel R. Delany quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-r-delany/) ## More Good writing quotes > [My only close-to-game-plan is to follow good writing. If the writing is in TV or if it's in theater or in film, that's it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-driver/my-only-close-to-game-plan-is-to-follow-good-writing-if-the-writing/) [Adam Driver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-driver/) > [Inspiration comes from so many sources. Music, other fiction, the non-fiction I read, TV shows, films, news reports, people I know, stories I hear,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trudi-canavan/inspiration-comes-from-so-many-sources-music-other-fiction-the-non/) [Trudi Canavan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trudi-canavan/) > [I don't think that writing, real writing, has much to do with affirming belief--if anything it causes rifts and gaps in belief which make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-evenson/i-don-t-think-that-writing-real-writing-has-much-to-do-with-affirming/) [Brian Evenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-evenson/) > [“But the secret of good writing is to strip every sentence to its cleanest components. Every words that serves no function, every long word…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-zinsser/but-the-secret-of-good-writing-is-to-strip-every-sentence-to-its/) [William Zinsser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-zinsser/) > [There is sometimes a feeling in crime fiction that good writing gets in the way of story. I have never felt that way. All…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-connolly/there-is-sometimes-a-feeling-in-crime-fiction-that-good-writing-gets/) [John Connolly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-connolly/) > [There is no royal path to good writing; and such paths as exist do not lead through neat critical gardens, various as they are,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessamyn-west/there-is-no-royal-path-to-good-writing-and-such-paths-as-exist-do-not/) [Jessamyn West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessamyn-west/) > [ David Mamet, Tim Kazurinsky, and Denise DeClue, who adapted \[ About Last Night\]. Between the three of them... I mean, it's always down to… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-lowe/david-mamet-tim-kazurinsky-and-denise-declue-who-adapted-about-last/) [Rob Lowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-lowe/) > [Agents and publishers only want one thing - good writing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jasper-fforde/agents-and-publishers-only-want-one-thing-good-writing/) [Jasper Fforde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jasper-fforde/) > [ Hypertext makes a virtue out of lack of organization, allowing ideas and thoughts to be juxtaposed at will. \[...\] The advent of hypertext is… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-a-norman/hypertext-makes-a-virtue-out-of-lack-of-organization-allowing-ideas/) [Donald A. Norman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-a-norman/) > [The very first thing I tell my new students on the first day of a workshop is that good writing is about telling the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-lamott/the-very-first-thing-i-tell-my-new-students-on-the-first-day-of-a/) [Anne Lamott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-lamott/) > [I think that's one of the maybe under-discussed aspects of process - the difference between a good writing day and a bad one is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saunders/i-think-that-s-one-of-the-maybe-under-discussed-aspects-of-process/) [George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/) > [Good writing is lean and confident.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/good-writing-is-lean-and-confident/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Our tragedy today is a general and universal physical fear so long sustained by now that we can even bear it. There are no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-faulkner/our-tragedy-today-is-a-general-and-universal-physical-fear-so-long/) [William Faulkner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-faulkner/) > [We're not just writers; we're readers probably more than anything else. That's how you learn how to write and how you learn to appreciate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-berg/we-re-not-just-writers-we-re-readers-probably-more-than-anything-else/) [Elizabeth Berg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-berg/) > [Almost all good writing begins with terrible first efforts. You need to start somewhere.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-lamott/almost-all-good-writing-begins-with-terrible-first-efforts-you-need/) [Anne Lamott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-lamott/) [Browse all 348 Good writing quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-writing/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Good writing is clear. Talented writing is energetic. Good writing avoids errors. Talented writing makes things happen in the reader’s mind — vividly, forcefully — that good writing, which stops with clarity and logic, doesn’t.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Samuel R. 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